Makkah summit to strengthen Islamic unity

The Council of Ministers yesterday said the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s call for an emergency Islamic summit in Makkah would strengthen Islamic unity. “The call for an emergency summit reflects the king’s desire to unify Muslim countries in this fragile time of discord,” the Cabinet said following its weekly meeting. Preparations are underway by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for the summit on Aug. 14 and 15 and will include a meeting of foreign ministers and senior OIC officials. “The summit will address the situation in a number of Muslim countries, intensify efforts to contain division and dissention and strengthen Islamic unity and solidarity,” the OIC statement reported by Saudi Press Agency said. The Cabinet chaired by King Abdullah highlighted the Saudi monarch’s five-day fundraising campaign for the Syrian people. “This reflects the king’s humanitarian feelings toward his brethren in Syria,” it added. Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said the Cabinet praised resolutions taken by an emergency Arab League Ministerial Council meeting in Doha pledging all necessary assistance for Syrians. The Cabinet agreed to the signing of an agreement with Tajikistan to avoid double taxation and prevent tax evasion. It also agreed to change several details of the Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard agreement. “The Cabinet elected to intensify efforts by all government departments to apply e-government systems,” Khoja said, adding it urged the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to conduct more workshops on the topic. “The Cabinet approved the bylaw of private rehabilitation centers for people with disabilities. The new law will regulate their operation and encourage the private sector to open more centers for people with special needs,” Khoja added. A license must be obtained before opening. King Abdullah congratulated Saudis and the Arab and Islamic Ummah on the advent of Ramadan and hoped the holy month would bring greater progress and prosperity to Muslim countries. The Cabinet approved Fahd Al-Jarallah undersecretary for investigation affairs at the Control and Investigation Board; Muhammad Al-Muqhem director general of public administration at the Control and Investigation Board; Saad Al-Zaid director general of Dar Al-Ifta’s branch office in Makkah; Abdul Hakeem Al-Shuaibi director general of administration and finance at the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution; and Abdullah Al-Hamid assistant undersecretary for expatriate workers affairs at the Labor Ministry. From: Arabnews